Commotion in BMC House on open spaces

Published: Friday, November 23, 2007, 21:06 [IST]

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Mumbai, Nov 23 (UNI) The proceedings in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation were stalled today by opposition corporators after the policy on open plots in the city was passed in the Improvement Committee yesterday.

Corporators belonging to Congress, NCP and MNS were opposing the ruling BJP-Sena's caretaker policy decision on open plots and stopped the Mayor from making any announcements.

Opposition leader, Raj Hans Singh and corporators, Amin Patel and Niyaz Ahmed Vanu were the most vocal and did not allow the Mayor to introduce the new Additional Municipal Commissioner to the House.

BJP-Sena corporators had decided to give open plots of land to NGO's and other organisations on a caretaker's basis, in order to prevent encroachments on these plots.

Standing Committee Chairman, Ravindra Waikar said, ''Most of the open plots in the city has been encroached upon and the BMC has not been able to protect them and they have been regularised by the State government.'' He said that the corporation has decided to give plots to private parties on a caretaker basis as the corporation has not been able to protect these plots for want of funds and resources.

Yashodhar Phanse, the Chairman of the Improvement Committee while speaking to UNI said, ''the final decision is with the U D department which is headed by the Chief Minister and if the opposition wants the proposal can be stalled there, or is it that the Congress and NCP corporators do not trust their ministers with open plots ?'' UNI